Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is used to treat a growing number of tendon, joint and muscle conditions. These include tennis elbow, where results in double blind studies are reported as excellent; chronic tendinitis of the knee and shoulder rotator cuff pain, Achilles tendinitis, hamstring tendinitis and plantar fasciitis and heel spurs have also been treated successfully.
The above conditions are often difficult to treat using other methods and can become chronic. With ESWT patients report reduced pain and faster healing, without significant adverse side effects. However, the treatment has proven challenging to verify categorically in large controlled studies, in part because the therapist and patient are aware whether they are in the treatment cohort or the sham cohort [citation needed]. ESWT is also used to promote bone healing and treat bone necrosis. It is an effective alternative to surgical treatment of non-healing fractures.
ESWT is used for wound healing and has shown positive results in short-term and long-term outcomes in diabetic patients suffering from foot ulcers.
Chest pains associated with heart disease, known as angina have been treated successfully with ESWT. Studies have shown that the shockwaves promote the growth of new blood vessels or revascularization.
Since 2010 shockwaves have been used in urology, to treat chronic pelvic pain syndrome and erectile dysfunction. Unlike drugs, ESWT is non-invasive, does not have side effects, and promotes long-term healing. There are a growing number of double blind sham controlled studies that show success rates of up to 80%.
We are delighted to announce that we now have shock wave therapy available at the clinic.
This is a new, non-operative treatment for chronic pain conditions, including calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder, tennis and golfer’s elbow, heel spurs etc…
It is particularly useful in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal conditions in patients who do not wish to have, or are not suitable for injection therapy.
The treatment involves sending shockwaves through your skin to influence the affected tissue beneath.
Shockwave (ECST) provides the following benefits:
- Mechanical stimulation
- Increased local blood flow
- Increase in cellular activity
- Transient analgesic effect on afferent nerves
- Break down calcific deposits (primarily, but not exclusively in tendon
One of the strongest arguments for the use of shockwave in therapy is that it effectively takes a tissue from a more chronic to a more acute state, and in doing so, provides a stimulus (trigger) to a ‘stalled’ repair sequence (Watson 2012).
The main body of evidence supporting this treatment covers:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Planter Fasititis
- Heel spurs
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Patellar tendonipathy
- Tennis and Golfers elbow (medial and lateral epicondylalgia)
- Biceps tendinopathy
- Supraspinatus tendinopathy
- Trochanteric bursitis
There are certain conditions where Radial Pulse Wave Shockwave is not appropriate. You can discuss your medical history at your initial assessement.